D.C. exhibit chronicles socialist realism (06/14/98)

D.C. exhibit chronicles socialist realism

WASHINGTON - An exhibit of socialist realism paintings from Ukraine opened at the Georgetown Art Guild May 19. The exhibit presents works from the late 1940s through the 1960s, and reflects the changing ideals of socialism in the Soviet Union from the Stalin era through more politically liberal and economically abundant times. The exhibit includes portraits, landscapes and large-scale genre paintings.

"This era was marked by a sense of optimism in the future, more than any other time in Soviet history," remarked Orysia Pylyshenko, curator of the exhibit. "It was a time of great upward mobility, a time when the children of peasants and workers became scientists and white collar workers - the war had ended, Stalin died soon thereafter and the Soviet Union put the first man in space. It seemed in those years that anything was possible. It is this optimism that drew me to this period and which makes the paintings of this era so appealing. Now that the Iron Curtain has lifted, it is time to re-evaluate this period of 20th century Ukrainian painting and recognize its place in Ukraine's history," she continued.

In his remarks at the exhibit opening, Ambassador William Green Miller, former ambassador to Ukraine, conveyed his feeling that this unique painting genre was a product of its era, combining rigid government control over content and style with highly-developed technical mastery. Ambassador Miller was quick to add that the paintings did not reflect any of the horrors visited upon Ukraine in the 20th century by the Soviet government, such as the famines and severe political oppression against "nationalists" and intellectuals.

Volodymyr Belashov, deputy chief of mission of the Ukrainian Embassy noted that while socialist realism painting has been maligned because of its political character, the talent of Ukrainian painters and their ability to create beauty within the narrow confines of the socialist system cannot be denied. He further added that this exhibit is the first in the United States that is devoted specifically to Ukrainian socialist realism painting and is an excellent opportunity for an American audience to become aquainted with this aspect of Ukrainian history and culture.

The opening exhibit was shared with the neighboring Alla Rogers Gallery, which, since 1990, has specialized in contemporary Eastern European art. As a contrast to the exhibit of socialist realism, the Alla Rogers Gallery assembled a group of recent paintings and works on paper by Ukrainian artists, Oleh Nedoshytko, Roman Romanyshyn and Roman Harasuta to demonstrate the current plunge into formerly "forbidden" artistic territory such as symbolism, surrealism and highly personal painting style. This juxtaposition of historic and modern Ukrainian art provided a unique perspective regarding the evolution of painting in Ukraine.

The exhibit of socialist realism painting will run through July 31 at the Georgetown Art Guild, in the heart of Georgetown at 1054 31st St., NW (202) 625-1470. The exhibit at the Alla Rogers Gallery will run until June 17.